Le BRASS is a cultural centre located in a historic building in the municipality of Forest. The Brass-building, from which Le BRASS takes it name, was erected in 1903 as part of the family run Wielemans-Ceuppens brewery. In 1988, the brewery came in disuse. It took two decades to find a new purpose as the cultural centre for Forest. The centre aims to strengthen the communal heritage of the municipality, with particular attention to including fragile populations in cultural activities.
Le BRASS is located in the municipality of Forest, which is part of the Brussels-Capital Region. The building Le BRASS resides in once belonged to the Wielemans-Ceuppens brewery. This family run brewery first saw light in 1862. Between 1900 and 1960, the company flourishes and extends to almost 4 hectare. As part of this expansion, in 1903, the building that currently houses Le BRASS is built. In 1978, the company can no longer withstand the strong competition that has entered the market in recent decades and the company is sold to the Artois group. This group slowly decreases production in the complex and in 1988, the brewery is closed. Many of the surrounding buildings are destroyed. Having shaped the local urban landscape for decades through its buildings, its cafés, and the smell of its production, two buildings, the Blomme, built in 1930, and the Brass, are saved and classified as heritage. After ceasing of production in 1988, the buildings remain in disuse for almost two decades. Then they find a new purpose. [1;2]
Le BRASS is a cultural centre that offers a place for concerts, shows, exhibitions, workshops, citizen meetings, thematic festivals and internships (particularly around digital culture). It is also engaged in cultural action projects, like Park Poetik, a festival that takes place on the streets and squares of the town, in which artists and community members can meet and connect. Through its activities, Le BRASS strives to strengthen the communal heritage in the municipality, with particular attention to the most fragile populations and those furthest from culture. Le BRASS aims to be strongly anchored in the local neighbourhood, and projects are constantly redesigned in cooperation with inhabitants, in order to meet their changing needs. [3]
Next to the cultural centre, the Dutch-speaking library BIB (nowadays called Bib Vorst) and Medina, an associations that hosts a year-round homework club are also housed in the building. [1; 4] Le BRASS also organises exhibitions and creative projects at the Abbaye de Forest , a historic abbey in the municipality of Forest which is being transformed into a hub for culture, artistic education and youth.
Le BRASS is initiated by the Municipality of Forest. It benefits from support of the Alderman of Culture, on behalf of the College of Mayors and Aldermen of the Municipality of Forest. Moreover, it is recognized as a House of Cultures and Social Cohesion by the Brussels French-speaking public service and a Cultural Center approved by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. [5]
The Municipality of Forest provides the majority of financing for Le BRASS, with help from funding at the EU and regional level, like for instance occasional funding from the Brussels-Capital Region. The initiative is dependent on public funding and subsidies. [1; 6]
Circular models Leveraging Investments in Cultural heritage adaptive reuse: Le BRASS Centre Culturel de Forest, Belgium. https://www.clicproject.eu/clicapp/home/details/3320, last accessed on 14/02/2023
Le BRASS Cultural Centre: About – Activities. https://www.lebrass.be/apropos/activites/, last accessed on 14/02/2023
Le BRASS Cultural Centre: Projects. https://www.lebrass.be/projets/, last accessed on 14/02/2023
Facebook page – BIB Library Vorst. https://www.facebook.com/bibvorst/, last accessed on 14/02/2023
Le BRASS Cultural Centre: About – Partners. https://www.lebrass.be/apropos/partenaires/, last accessed on 14/02/2023
WIELS, organisational website, https://www.wiels.org/en/, last accessed on 14-02-2023